100 Life Goals

The first item on my list of 100 things to do before I die is “Become a Creator.” It’s a goal I feel compelled to pursue.

A Lifelong Love for Making Things

Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved making things.
Art and crafts were my favorite subjects in school, and at home, I often enjoyed knitting.
Even now, as a working adult, I occasionally sew small items for fun.
Professionally, I work as a programmer, which in a way makes me a creator.

When I think about it, my love for creating might have come from the people around me.
My grandfather made anything and often crafted toys for me.
My grandmother and mother were also making things too, especially knitting.

Finding Fulfillment as an Employee

Now, I work as a programmer.
I like my job, in fact, I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn new things every day.
Designing and developing systems feels like an extension of the joy I found in creating things as a child.

Recently, I’ve been doing more management work.
I’ve come to see building a team or shaping an organization as a form of creation, too.

The grass is always greener on the other side

I make things at work, occasionally craft for fun, and live a stable life.
So, what’s missing?
Honestly, I don’t even know.

Maybe I’m just bored with my current workplace.
I’ve been at the same company for about 15 years. I joined as a new graduate.
This is a pretty standard career path in Japan.
I’ve changed roles within the company a few times.
These changes allowed me to gain a wide range of experiences and grow.
Still, I wonder if the overall environment has become too familiar.

Perhaps I’m just tired of my current lifestyle.
At my age, major life events like marriage or having kids aren’t likely to happen.
That leaves retirement as the only significant milestone left to look ahead to.

Or maybe I’ve simply run out of energy for navigating social environments.
I recharge best when I’m alone, but being part of a company remains the easiest way to earn a living.
Could it be that I’m just worn out from my younger, more energetic days?

I don’t have a clear answer.
Most likely, it’s a mix of reasons that have brought me to this feeling.
I can’t fully explain it, but I think I want to be a different version of myself.

No Risk in Trying

Thankfully, the skills I’ve gained as a programmer can easily translate into creative endeavors.
If I stick to IT-related projects, the path to becoming a creator should be smoother than starting from scratch.
And fortunately, my company allows side jobs.

Above all, there’s no risk in giving it a try.
I can continue working my current job while pursuing creative projects as a hobby or side hustle. Starting small and working at my own pace feels manageable.

If I Could Make a Living From It…

Eventually, I’d like to reach a level where I can make a living as a creator.
To truly break free from the vague dissatisfaction I feel, I think I need a major change in my life.
If I could achieve independence, that would bring a profound sense of fulfillment.
Starting my own company could also be seen as another form of creation.

Of course, I know it will take a lot of hard work and time.
Even my cost of living is low, but, making enough to sustain myself won’t be easy.
The world isn’t that forgiving.

If I could reach the point of self-sufficiency, I would feel recognized for my abilities as a creator.
I wouldn’t feel like someone hiding behind a company’s name.

What Will I Create?

As for what I’ll create, I’m thinking of starting with apps.
I want to develop something I genuinely enjoy and put it out into the world.

So, here’s my plan for achieving my bucket list’s No. 1 goal:

• Develop and release something to the world.
• Earn money from it.
• Ideally, become independent.

In FY2025, I aim to release a one-off project.
I also want to create a habit of continuous development and release.

What’s Next?

Judging by today’s post alone, this might look like a blog about starting a business.
But it’s not.
This blog is about positively tackling the 100 things I want to do before I die.
There are plenty of other, more everyday goals I want to share, so stay tuned for those too!

By the way, my native language is Japanese but I’m writing English version of my blog.
This is one of the items on my bucket list.